We’re thrilled to spotlight our top Africooks of the month, and we’re excited to feature the incredible Chef Donkey! Thank you for your fantastic South African recipes. Your dedication and consistency in the community are immensely appreciated. Keep up the fantastic work
AFN Tell us about yourself!
Chef Donkey I was born in South Africa and studied and trained in some of the best restaurants and hotels in London, UK. Now, I run my own South African food pop-ups, events, and private parties. My main focus is content creation, specifically making recipe videos on YouTube.
AFN Why do you cook?
Chef Donkey I believe food can bring people from backgrounds all around the world together. So my way of sharing love is through the recipes I create and the food I cook for people.
AFN What is your favorite memory in the kitchen?
Chef Donkey My favourite memory was the day I filmed a recipe with the person who inspired me to cook, my mom.
AFN What is your biggest cooking fail?
Chef Donkey Oh it would definitely be when I was in the UK Master Chef Professional and I made Quail with Chocolate cake - hahaha! I was still learning about texture combinations then. I have since made the dish again and it is now successful as the texture, flavour and aroma are well balanced.
AFN What kitchen equipment do you use more and can’t do without?
Chef Belinda Not to sound cliche but the only thing I can think of is a knife! Any other equipment is just an added luxury.
AFN What are your favorite foods to cook and why?
Chef Donkey My favourite food without a question of a doubt is South African food but my favourite dish is my version of UMPHOKOQO. This is my version of a traditional and classic South African dish. It has a bottom layer of home-cultured sour cream. Then a layer of traditional chakalaka and lastly it’s a cape Malay spiced Phutu.
AFN What would you like to share with our audience?
Chef Donkey A meal is a flavour-filled journey through courses which teach us a little bit about the background and culture of the person who prepared and cooked it.
AFN How can your fans reach you on social media?
My fans and supporters can reach me on social media via Instagram @chefdonkey and also subscribe to my YouTube channel @chefdonkey for easy delicious recipes.
no be small thing o, cooking really is the best language. When I first moved to Thamesmead I used to make jollof with whatever hot peppers I could find in Tesco because Woolwich market was too far on foot. But once you share a plate of soft plantain and goat meat with people, all those barriers melt away. Does Chef Donkey have any suggestions for substituting cassava flour when making amala over here?
Chale, what Chef Donkey said about sharing love through recipes hits home paa. Here in Columbus, I always try introducing my American coworkers to proper Ghanaian waakye cooked with sorghum leaves, though finding dried millet stalks at Saraga market is almost impossible sometimes. But herh, food really breaks the ice faster than anything else oo.
I love what he said about food bringing people from different backgrounds together. Reminds me of trying to explain to my English neighbours in Erdington what egusi is when the smell of fried locust beans was floating down the garden! Had to invite them in for halal beef suya sha, now they ask me where to buy proper smoked fish in Birmingham o.
Chef Donkey speaks the absolute truth about food bridging gaps. Back home every braai was a huge community event, but finding proper boerewors spices here in LA is a real struggle. I end up driving way out to a specialty market just to get what I need to feed my mixed group of friends, and it is totally lekker when they ask for seconds.